Bhubaneswar: In a bad news for animal lovers, tigress 'Rebati' died at Nandankanan Zoological Park on the outskirts of Odisha capital early this morning.

According to the zoo authorities, the health condition of the 18-year-old tigress was not well for the last two months due to old-age ailments. The animal was undergoing treatment at the ICU of the zoo's veterinary hospital.

However, 'Rebati' succumbed around 5.30 am today, the authorities said.

Notably, she was born to tiger 'Rohit' and tigress 'Shailaza' on July 3, 1999 and had no offspring.

With the death of 'Rebati', the number of tigers in Nandankanan zoo has reduced to 24, which includes 16 normal coloured and eight white tigers. The number of tigress in the zoo stands at 12.